Sensex loses 59 points

Several counters witnessed squaring up of positions by local operators due to last day of settlement at the National Stock Exchange NSE. Side counters posted considerable gains. IT stocks like Satyam and othersdeclined sharply as the gains posted by them were partially wiped out following selling spree by operators.

The total volume of business was sharply high at Rs 2154.10 crore as compared with Rs 1503.12 crore posted yesterday. Ranbaxy remained at the top among the traded scrips with a turnover of Rs 246.51 crore but the scrip eased by Rs 9.45 to Rs 1097.50 on profit taking. Satyam Computer declined by Rs 10.05 to Rs 908, Hindustan Lever by Rs 56.05 to Rs 2640, Infosys by Rs 112.50 to Rs 5830, ITC by Rs 12.75 to Rs 978.25, Reliance by Rs 2.20 to Rs 184.60, SBI by Rs 5 to Rs 222 and TISCO by Rs 5.40 to Rs 161.50. However, Pentafour Software firmed up by Rs 43.85 to Rs 626 and Larsen by Rs 4.50 to Rs 393.50 on short covering.